Latching device for shipping containers



June 17, 1930.

.JJ mmmmmmm f y w. R. BROWN E1' A1.4

LATCHING DEVICE FOR SHIPPING CONTAINERS Filed Aug. l, 1927.

A a6 M @-31 I I Y 35 35 0 [94? 40 La 'IU/'Hy l @ZTL an 31 A 1| @l if J'-U- 74d' 71617/72wgz Bron/72. Amine (i 70"w2zmy @www Patented June 17,1930 UNITED STATES PATENT ori-M2151A WILLIAM BROWN AND ARCI-IIE C.TOWNE, OF WINCHENDON, MASSACHUSETTS, AS-

SIGNORS TO BROWN PACKAGE COMPANY, OF WINCI-IENDON, MASSACHUSETTS, A

CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS LATCIIING DEVICE FOR SHIPPING CONTAINERS`Application led August 1, 1927. Serial No. 209,745.

This invent-ion is capable of general application but relatesparticularly to containers for shipping ice cream and similar products.

It is essential that such a container may'be quickly and easily closedand as easily opened, and that the cover shall be securely held while intransit.

Itis the object of our invention to provide an improved device forlatching a cover on a shipping container, which device shall be simplein construction and operation, economical to manufacture, and entirelyreliable when in use.

Our invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of partswhich will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawings in which Fig.1 is a partial side elevation of a shipping container having ourimprovements ap plied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation, taken along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1but showing the cover raised from the body or tub;

Fig. 3 is a detail side elevation, looking in the direction of the arrow3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a. side View of one of the latching discs; and

Fig. 5 is a detail view of a portion of the upper edge of the body ortub.

Referring to the drawings, we have shown a shipping container comprisinga body portion or tub and a cover adapted to be fitted tightly thereon.The body portion comprises an outer wall and an inner wall 11, eachpreferably made of pine or other soft wood, separated by a packing 12 ofcork or other suitable heat insulating material. A fiat annular ring 13.covers the upper end of the inner wall 11 and also covers the insulatinglayer 12.

The cover comprises an outer layer of wood 14, an inner layer of wood 15and a layer 16 of cork or other heat insulating material. The layers 15and 16 are of smaller diameter than the layer 14 and are adapted to fitwithin the top of the outer wall 10 of the body portion of thecontainer.

When the parts are assembled the cork layer 16 is pressed firmly againstthe ring 13, effectively sealing the container. The wood layers 14 and15 of the cover are preferably assembled with the grain disposed atright angles, thus increasing the strength of the cover and preventingdistortion thereof.

The inner layer 15 is provided with a groove or recess 20 (Fig. 3)extending diametrically across the layer 15 in its upper face. A lockingbar 22 is inserted in the recess 20 between the layers 14 and 15 and issecured in position by bolts 23 near the outer edges of the cover. Theextreme ends of the bar 22 project slightly beyond the cover layer 14and are preferably provided with pp nver upper surfaces 24, as indicatedin A pair of cam discs are secured to the sides of the wall 10, one ateach end of a diameter thereof, said discs being preferably pivoted onbolts 31 extending through the wall 10 and having nuts 32 seated inrecesses on the inner sides of the wall 10. The bolts 31 also preferablyextend through openings in a hoop or metal band 33, surrounding the tubor body and held from upward displacement by hoop shaped or headedfastening members 34 (Fig. l).

The discs 30 are each provided with an annular flange 34, recessed atone point as indicated at 35 (Fig. 4) and said discs have lugs orprojections 36 by which they may be easily rotated. The inner surface ofthe flange 34 is preferably concentric at its middle part, as indicatedat 37 in 4, and has its end portions outwardly displaced so that theyare substantially further from the axis of the.

disc at their ends, adjacent the recesses 35.

The upper edge of the tub is notched or recessed at 40 (Fig. 5) toreceive the ends of the bar 22.

Having described the details of construction of our improved latchingdevice, the manner ofusing the same will be readily apparent. After thematerial to be shipped has been placed within the body or tub of thecontainer, the cover is placed thereon with the bar 22 extending throughthe recesses 40 in the upper edge of the tub. The extreme outer ends ofthe bar Will pass through the recesses 35 in the cam rings 34 of thelocking discs, as the cover is placed on the tub. The discs may then beturned a half revolution each by graspin the lugs 36, such movementdrawing the bar 2v2 firmly downward to compress the cork layer 16against the ring 13. Vhen the discs 30 have' been turned 180, the endsof the bar22 are engaged by the concentric por# tions 37 of the ring 34,from which position they are not easily displaced by any accidentalturning of the discs 30. Our latching deA- Vice has been found ee'ctiveandl extremely satisfactory in practical use. Y

Having thus described our invention and the advantages thereof, We donot Wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed otherwise than asset forth in the claims, but What We cla-im is p y y 1. In a shippingcontainer comprising a body and a Cover, a latching bar extendingtransversely of said cover and projecting beyond the sidel surfaces ofsaid body, and a pair of canil discs mounted one at each side of saidbody and effective to engage and draw downwardsaid latching bar, saidbody having notches in its upper edge to receive said bar thereby toposition the bar relative to said cam discs, and to prevent angularmovement of said bar and cover, and also having reinforcing memberssecured thereto, said discs having pivotal fastening members extendingthrough the reinforcing means and secured to the body.

2. In a shipping container comprising a body and a cover, a latching barextending transversely of said cover and` projecting beyond the sidesurfaces of saidbody, a pair Y of cam discs mounted one at each side o-fsaid body and effective to engage and draw downward said latching bar,pivotal fastening members for said discs secured in said body,

and means to position said latching bar' relative to said cam discs.

AIn testimony whereof We have hereunto afxed our signatures. y f lyWILLIAM R.M BROW'N. ARCI-IIE C. TOWNE.

